Jesus the expected Messiah

"Book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham..." Matthew 1. 1

"This is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my pleasure." Matthew 3. 17

The first three chapters of Matthew introduce and identify Jesus as the Messiah, in accordance with the Old Testament.

Matthew brings up the line of Christ, son of David, son of Abraham, until the dawn of the nation born of the covenant with Abraham.

An angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream and reveals to him the sex, name, and mission of the unborn, according to the prophecy of Isaiah : "Behold, the virgin will be pregnant and bear a son, and call him by the name of Emmanuel, which translates : God with us" (Matt 1. 23, Isa 7. 14).

After the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, magi come from the east to Jerusalem and ask, "Where is the King of the Jews who was born ? Because we saw his star in the East and we came to pay tribute to him" (Matt.2.2). The priests and teachers of the Law have no hesitation in answering with a Micah prophecy that designated Bethlehem as the birthplace of the King (Mic.5: 2).

An angel of the Lord warns Joseph of the murderous plan of Herod, announced by a prophecy of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31, 15), and orders him to flee to Egypt with the little child and his mother. After the death of those who were angry at the child's life, an angel reveals to Joseph that it is time to return to Israel ; Joseph settled in Nazareth. Two prophecies are fulfilled : "I called my son out of Egypt" (Hosea 11. 1) and "He will be called Nazarene" (Matt.2.23, Isa.11).

John the Baptist appears to open the way to the Messiah. Isaiah had described the precursor's mission long before his coming (Isa 40: 3-5). At the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, the Father makes his voice heard from heaven and authenticates the identity of his Son by the Scriptures : "This is my beloved Son" (Ps 2, 7), " in whom I found my pleasure" (Isa 42. 1).

The facts and declarations are unanimous and convergent : Jesus is the announced Messiah, the King of Israel. The story of his public ministry can begin, punctuated by the expression so characteristic of Matthew "So that is accomplished what was said", in the Old Testament, of course ! Are we looking for Jesus (Luke 24. 26 and 44) ?

Source (Pleasing the Lord)